Stress is a part of everyday life.
When something happens to us, we think about it and decide how threatening it is.
Throughout the course of a day, we are confronted by many of these stressors.
Most people see stress as an incident with a negative impact, yet not all stressors are negative.
A stressor can be as simple as our stomach telling us it’s time to eat, or more complicated such as deadlines placed on us by our teachers, parents or bosses.
Each of us are able to cope with some level of stress, and have created the skills that help us to cope.
According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, if we decide that we have the skills to deal with a situation, we do not label it as a stressor.
If we decide a situation requires coping skills that we have not learned, we label it as stressful and the body reacts to it.
Everyone sees each situation differently and no two people will respond exactly the same way to the same situation.
When it comes to stress management, many people only pay attention to the stressors that are immediate and over quickly – like when we smack our thumb with a hammer.
What we really need to pay attention to are those stressors that are continual and build up over time. These are the things that wear us down and lead to both physical and mental issues.
There are many things that you can do to increase your ability to deal with stress. It is important to first recognize the signs of stress.
An increase in muscle tension, a change in sleeping patterns, and mood swings are just a few symptoms of stress.
Next, you can look at your lifestyle and see what can be changed – are you involved in too many activities? Not managing your time well?
Or not getting enough sleep or proper nutrition? Also, the addition of relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or massage can be beneficial.
If you are having difficulties making changes, there are many forms of help that anyone can access.
In Airdrie, the Steppingstones Project focuses on the promotion, prevention and early intervention for the many mental health issues students and their families face.
The Steppingstones Project is one of the 39 Mental Health Capacity Building Projects involved in an initiative led by Alberta Health Services, Addictions and Mental Health, in partnership with Alberta Education and funded by Alberta Health and Wellness.
Sandra Dame is the Stepping Stones to Mental Health program coordinator for Rocky View Schools.
